Rotary discharge for concrete mixers



R. A. BECKWITH ROTARY DISCHARGE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,102

Filed Feb. 14, 1928 1&1

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,102

R. A. BECKWITH ROTARY DISCHARGEFOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed Feb. 14, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet V lllvl Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,102 4 'R. A. BECKWITH ROTARY DISCHARGE FOR CONCRETE. MIXERS Filed Feb. 14, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. A. BECKWITH ROTARY DISCHARGE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed. Feb. 14, 1928 Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

; arr a PJAYIVIOND A, BECKWITE, OF MILVTAUKEE, WISCONLSIN, ASSIGNOR TO KOEI-IEING GQIY I- PANY, F MILWA'UKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION.

ROTARY DISCHARGE non concnntrn rarainns.

Application filed February 14, 1928. Serial No. 2%,259.

The improvements hereinafter described have to do with concrete mixing machines of the type wherein there is employed a rotating, nut-ring or agitating drum, and ap pertain primaril y to provisions for discharging the contents of the drum atter concrete aggregates have been properly admixed therein.

lhe primary aim of the invention has been to devise improved discharging means, making necessary the application of a relatively small amount of power in order to effect a movement or adjustment of the discharging means so that it may assume either of its two positions in which it controls eitherdischarging or non-discharging actions of the mixing machine or drum associated therewith. I

In the carrying out of the invention. 1 uti' lize what may be called a floating discharge chute mounted so that it may be brought into frictional engagementwith the normally rotating drum, whereby the chute may be driven in a rotat-ive manner by the, drum, together with manual or mechanically controlledinstrumcntalities for initially establishing the frictional connection between the chute and the drum whereby the former may be driven from the latter.

Tlhe invention additionally involves means for automatically disengaging the discharge chute means from the drum or mixer, by which it may be operated in the manner stated in order to discontinue the driving function of the drum in relation to the discharging chute means.

While hereinafter, the discharging means will be characterized as a .lischar2 e chute it is quite within the purview of this invention, that the adaptations thereo'l' as illus (rated and described herein, may function for the purpose of controlling charging actions of a drum or receptacle, under which conditions the term discharge chute is used in a relative sense and may be assumed to have a broader significance as covering a chute that may either discharge or charge a receptacle according to conditions oi its use.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front view, somewhat tragmental-y because broken away at different places showing partially a mixing drum, and discharge chute means of my invention associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a side view also fragmentary and partially in section, showing the parts that are illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 8 a view Slillll" r to the lower portion of Figure l but depicting the knockout or disengaging means. for the chute in a tripped condition ready to perform its chute disengaging function. Figure i is a view somewhat similar to Figure 3, showing the chute in the position it assumes just previous to being tripped to discontlnue its movement.

Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view of the disengaging device.

Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view of the control member and the actuating parts therefor.

Figure 7 a View similar to Figure 1 but illustrating a different type of means for controlling the engagement or disengagement of the chute from its frictional driving relation, respecting the drum.

Figure 8 is a sectional view more tally illustrating the parts depicted in Figure 7. and taken about on the line 8*S of Figure 7.

- Figure 9 is a fragmentary view showing the chute abutment engaging the littin g rollers when about to be operated to disconnect the chute from the mining drum.

Figure 10 is a view similar toFigure 9 illustrating the parts in a somewhat more advanced position toward chute disengagemcnt adjustment.

Figure ll is asectional view taken about on the line 1lll of Figure 7.

l igi-ire 12 is a fragmentary view showing the lifting rollers in a different position from that previous y illustrated.

Referring ,lu'st to the construction of my invention in Fi gu res to (S inclusive. the min-- ing drum designated A, the discharge at B and the supporting disc or closure plate surrounding the discharge chute, at C. The part C is disposed within the space of a surrounding drip ring' 1 such as usually provided at the discharging opening or mouth of a rotating drum type concrete mixer. T he chute B is rigid with the disc or plate C and is adapted to assume either of opposite angular positions as illustrated in full and dotted lines in Figure 2, theiull line position being that of discharging and the dotted line position that oi non-discharging.

The chute device comprising the parts B and C is supported in a floating manner withy scribed is as follows.

in" the drip ring 1 by an arm 2 rigidly connected by a castingor other part with the supporting means on "the frame 5 of the ma- V chine.

7 It will be obviousthat. if the closure discC is in frictional contact with thedrip ring 1, the rotative movement of'the drum A, under iaowerofthe driving of suitable engine, may be readily transmittedto the closure 'member C, and t-hechute B carried thereby,

because the-part C has a swivel'ed connection with the arm 2 and may freely rotate relative thereto as well as roclrth'ercwith about the ax s oft-he shaft 3. The swivelcd coniu tion that just n'ientioned shown (l-b6. Thus, it

- I use the power of the forces forturnmg the drum A in order to transn'nt rotative move-- ments to the chute B through frictional engagement between the parts C and 1; It is only necessary, moreover, that I supply means to connect and disconnect theparts land C in order to control the turning of the chute B from one position to another, ordiscontinue such turning;

e For the last ment oned purpose I utilize a very simple contrlvance including the dis engaging device of Figure 5 together with a palr ofrigldly attached abutments 7 and 8 applied to the closure or disc C. The disengaging device aforesa1d includes a lever 9 having an upper roller 10 and a lower roller 11; also having a d sengaging or llftlng arm 12. Normally, the dlsengaging devlce is in the position of Figure 1 with the lever, 9 and arm 12 supported bythe latch 13, said latch being pivoted at'l-i and having an anti-fric tion roller 15 at its lower end. 7 The rollerl'fi is engageable by a cam 16 adapted to be rocked with and by a shaft 17 equipped with the handles 18 at its opposite ends. The shaft 17 may be manually operated by the handles 18 'or it may be tripped at intervals by some automatic device, such as a batchnieter which chines.

The operation of the construction just de- Assuming the discharge chute B is in theposition of Figure 1,

is a timing control meter of some mixing niaa slight outward pull on the handle 1.8 will:

rock the shaft 17, and cam the latch 13 to disengage its nose 13 from beneath the heel .12 of the lift arm 12. When so disengaged, the

weight'of the chute and its closure part C j causes itto gravitate by rocking downward of the arm 2 thereby bringing the lower POT-7 tion of the'member G into frictional engage ment with the drip ring 1 and causing this frictional engagement to connect the parts 1 and C in a driving relation so that the drum turns the chute B and the closure (1., Carry ing the abutment member 8 upwards inthe direction of the arrow of Figure 1, the same action causes the upperabutment member 7 end portion of the lever,

to turn around, and near its lowermost posi- Figure 2. To cause it to assun'ie its'discharg ling position again, the chute 17 is aroclzed manually or mechanically or automatically, and the, same cycle of operation is gone through as just previously described.

As aimeans for limiting the downward movement of the lower heavier end of the disengaging device of 1gure 5,1 employ a set screw stop 1.9 adapted to engage the lower Referring to Figures 7 to 12 inclusive, I utilize much the same construction of chute B and disc G asrpreviously described, the latteradapted to frictionally engage the drip ring 1 for the same purpose as related respectingthe first described construction. I provide also upper and lower abutments or arms 7 and 8, but in this instance, the arms 7 and 8 are hook-shaped so to speak, or formed with lifting noses 7 and 8". The chute 1 and enclosure plate C may gravitate as previously set forth, and 'may be mounted by the same supporting means as.

described. Normally, the parts B, C are held upwards out of contact or free from the ring 1 by a latch 2Q pivoted at 21 to the frame 22. A pull rod 23 is connectedto the latch 21 and a spring 2 14s interposed between a guide member 25 and a yoke 26 to which the rod 23 is secured and norma ly holds therod 23 in the position of Figure 7. The latch 20 has its nose engagingbeneath the nose or projection 7 ofthe abutment 7 in Figure 7, and thus maintains the parts Band C uplifted and disconnected from the drum A at the ring A disengaging device is also utilized in this construction and consists of a lever orarm 27 pivoted at 28 to the frame of the machine. Said lever 27 also carries upper and lower rollers 29 and 30 respectively, said rollersbeing interengaged by means of pinions or gears 31and 32 integral thereat a point below the- I with, or keyed thereto, it makes no difference latch 20 is disengaged from the abutment 7 permitting the parts B and C to lower. This engages the lower portion of the closure member G with the ring 1 of the drum A, and the drum thereafter drives the parts B and C to rotate them contra-clockwise, as seen in Figure 7. This causes descent of the abutment 7 and. ascent of the abutment 8 and the latter when it reaches a point near its uppermost position, engages the lower roller 30, seen in Figure 9, depresses the lever 27 and roller 30, engaging the roller with the member 1 on the drum. T hereupon the drum turns the roller 30 and also the roller 29, and the abutment passes from the roller 30 up onto the roller 29, which rollers are now positively driven. The positive drive of the rollers keeps turning the parts B and C and also starts to elevate the abutment 8 and the chute B, connected therewith, the actions of the lifting being typified by Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings. After engaging the roller 29, the abutment 8 escapes from the roller so to speak, and engages with the latch 20 which stops the movement or the abutment and likewise, the movement of the parts B and C which have been driving said abutment in the operation of the chute. The latch 20 forms a cushioning stop means for completing the lifting or disengagement of the chute B and closure C and discontinuing the turning of the parts in an obvious manner. According to the above, the chute has been turned from the discharging position of Figure 7 to the non-discharging position of the dotted lines of Figure 8, a halt revolution movement. The further movement of the chute from nondischarging position to discharging position may be caused by another half revolution going through the same cycle as above set torth, 'nitiating by pulling on the rod The rod 23 may be manually or meagain.

operated, as dechanically or automatically sired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim new and desire to secure. by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a concrete mixing machine, in combi nation, a mixing drum having an opening for passage of its contents, a chute device associated with said opening for controlling the passage o't said contents, means supporting the chute device so that it may move into and out of engagement with the drum whereby to cause movement of the chute device or render it inactive respectively and including a floating mounting for the chute device, abutment means carried by the chute device for normal ly holding it inactive in relation to the drum, and means cooperating with said abutment means for causing action of the same to efiect engagement of the chute device with the drum to turn therewith, and disengagement of these parts.

2. In a concrete mixing machine, 1n combination, a mixing drum having an opening for passage of its contents, a chute device associated n th said opening for controlling the passage of said contents, means supporting the chute device so that it may move into and out of engagement with the drum whereby to cause movement of the chute device or render it inactive respectively, and including a floating mounting for the chute device, abutment means carried by the chute device for normally holding it inactive in relation to the drum, and means cooperating with said abutment means for causing action. oi: the same to etl ect engagement of the chute device with the drum to turn therewith, and disengagement of these parts, including a disengaging device arranged in the path of the abutment means and operable thereby to cause movement of the chute device out of engagement with the drum. i

3. In a. concrete mixing machine, in combi' nation, a rotating mixing drum having an opening therein for passage or" its contents, a chute device associated with said opening and adapted to en gage 'i rictionally with the drum so as to be moved thereby, means for supporting the chute device normally so that it is not engaged with the drum and including abutment devices, means engaging one of the abutment devices normally to maintain the chute oevicc free from the drum and inactive, and control means for releasing the chute device from the action oi said active abutment device to efiect cooperation of the chute device and drum under predetermined scr ice conditions.

4. In a concrete mixing machine, in combination, a rotating mixing drum having an opening therein for passage of its contents, a chute device associated with said opening and adapted to engage t ri'ctionally with the drum so to be moved thereby, means for supporting the chute device normally so that it is not engaged with the drum and including abutment devices, means engaging one of bile abntn'ient devices normally to maintain the chute device free from the drum and inactive, and control means for releasing the chute device from the action of said active abutniicnt device to eil'ect cooperation of the chute device and drum under predetermined service condition, said last named means including a latch adapted to cooperate directly with one of the abutment parts to maintain the chute and the drum free in relation to one another.

5. In a concrete mixing machine, in combination, a rotating mixing drum having an opening therein for passage of its contents, a chute device associated with said opening and adapted to engage frictionally with the drum so as to be moved thereby, means for supporting the chute device normally so that it is not engaged with the drum and inc1uding abutment devices, means engaging one of the abutment devices normally tomaintain thejehute device free from the drum andinactlv'e, and control means 'for releasing the chute device'from the action o'f'said active abutment device'to efi'ect cooperation of the chute'deviceand drum under predetermined l the chute device so cooperating that the chute device Wlll be automatically rendered inoperative in relation to the drum at a certain point in the revolution of the chute device thereby.

6. In a concrete mixing machine, in combination, a rotary mixing drum having an opening in the side thereof, a chute device mounted in said opening, abutment partscarried by the chute device, a floating mounting for the chute device enabling it to move into and out of engagement with the drum so as to be driven thereby or rendered free therefrom and consequently inactive when so free, a disengaging device cooperative With the abut ment parts of the chute device to normally maintain the chute device inactive and free from the drum and latch means associated With said disengaging device causing the same to automatically act in cooperation vvith the abutment parts to free the chute device from the drum after engagement therewith andhavingbeen driven thereby;

7. In a concrete mixing machine, in combination, a rotary mixing drum having an opening in the side thereof, a chute device mounted in said opening, abutment parts carried by the chute device, a floating mounting for the chute device enabling it to move into and out of engagement With the drum so as to be driven thereby or rendered free therefrom and consequently inactive when so free, a 'disengaging device cooperative With the abut-g ment parts of the chute device to normally maintain the chute device inactive and free abutment parts to free thechute device from the drum after engagement therewith and having been driven thereby, the dlsengagmg 7 means involving lever, roller devices carried by the lever and engageable by the abutment parts of the chute'deviceand latch means controlling a normally inactice adjustment of the chute device through cooperat on with the abutment parts th reof.

8. In a concr I 'n 'machiue, in combination, a rotary mixing drum having an open in in the side thereof, a chute device n'iounted in said opening, abutment parts carriedby the chute device, a floating mounting for the chute device enabling'it to move into and out of engagement With the drum so as tobe driven thereby or rendered free therefrom and consequently inactive when so free. a

disengaging device cooperative with the abutment parts of the chute device to n01 mally maintain the chutedevice inactive and free from the drum and latchmeans associated with said disengaging device causing the same to automatically act in cooperationwith the abutment parts to free the chute device from the drum after engagement therewith and having been driven-thereby, the d sengaging means involving a lever, roller de vices carried by the lever and engageable by the abutment parts of the chute device and latch means controlling a normally inactive adjustment oft 1e chute device through coopcreation with the abutment parts thereof, and trip means for the latch device to' release the abutment partsin direct cooperation therewith, at the time therefroimto enable the engagement of the chute device with the minmg drum.

In testimony whereof Ialiix my signature.

RAYMOND A. BECKWITH 

